In 2017/18 a number of clubs in Berkshire and on its borders will be hosting monthly tournaments at Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 level. These are designed to support the development of young players by allowing them to put into practice the skills they learn on the training ground, and have fun playing against other local clubs. This is the 11th season of the Thames Valley Minis.

Whilst we appreciate that there is an ever increasing number of options for festivals and matches for U12’s we believe that TVM offer a unique opportunity for many of the new member of the hockey family. We have done our best to avoid conflicts but it is impossible to avoid any. We leave it up to the discretion of the individual clubs and coaches to make sure that individuals to not “overplay”.

These tournaments are by invitation only. For further details please contact Nick Hooper at Reading HC (see Contacts).

Dates and venues

2017/18

U8 Young

U8 Older

U10 B Mixed

U10 A Mixed

U10 Boys

U10 Girls

U12 B Mixed

U12 Girls

U12 Boys

8 Oct

Henley

South Berks

Newbury & Thatcham

Phoenix & Ranelagh

Marlow

Reading

Slough

M’head

Sonning

5 Nov

Phoenix & Ranelagh

Sonning

Henley

South Berks

M’head

Slough

Newbury & Thatcham

Marlow

Reading

3 Dec

Slough

M’head

South Berks

Newbury & Thatcham

Sonning

Marlow

Phoenix & Ranelagh

Reading

Henley

4 Feb

South Berks

Slough

High Wycombe

M’head

Reading

Henley

Sonning

Newbury & Thatcham

Marlow

4 Mar

Marlow

Reading

Phoenix & Ranelagh

Sonning

Slough

Newbury & Thatcham

M’head

A:Henley; B:Reading

South Berks

Tournaments are generally held on the first Sunday of the month with no tournaments in January.

Tournaments are to be in the morning starting between 9.00am and 10.00am. Individual hosting clubs will confirm start timings at point of invite and exact timings of matches when the schedule is completed in the week prior to the event. Depending on the number of matches scheduled tournaments should take about 1.5 hours.

• Emphasis on fun and safety – winning is secondary
• Support development of players – put skills from training ground into practice
• Straightforward planning and organisation for clubs
• Logistically easy for parents
• Standard format so tournaments are easy to run
• Players graded by age and ability

Tournament structure Guidelines

• • Tournaments will be held one Sunday per month and should not last longer than 2 hours and should preferably be no more than 1½ hours.
• The preferred start time is 9.30am – due to pitch availability, start times may vary from 9.00am to 11.30am.
• Clubs should enter sides to the relevant level tournament not just where is most convenient. B tournaments are fine for beginners, A ones are not. Equally experienced players should not be going to B tournaments.
• Hosts of similar level tournaments will need to be in close communication to ensure a balance of numbers across the venues.
• To maximise individual’s game time team managers can agree to play 8 a-side [max] (especially in cold conditions!)
• For mixed teams there should be a maximum of 5 boys on the pitch (4 for U6)
• GKs are welcome and can be included at any event. They are particularly welcome at the “A” events and, if needs be, can be shared around different teams to give them additional game time..
• Matches should all be 8-10 minutes (no half-time) with 1 minute changeover but is at the discretion of the individual tournaments to make sure that the kids play the maximum amount of hockey. The ideal is for kids to be playing at least every other game - teams should not be resting for more than one game at a time.
• 4-6 matches per teams.
• Normal weight balls at U12 and U10. At U8 lighter balls can be used as it makes little difference.
• No recording of results or winners.

Tournament rules

1. 1. Mini Hockey rules, to be interpreted sympathetically according to the age and ability of teams.
2. Usually 7-a-side, but 8-a-side with prior agreement of both coaches. Reducing to 6-a-side is at the sole discretion of the team with 7 players. 8-a-side is not discouraged, particularly in cold weather and at B tournaments, to keep everyone involved. U8 should be 6 a side.
3. Age qualification (Under8/10/12) is at 1st September in line with EH age groups for clubs.
4. Team coaches will umpire (unless host club can provide umpires).
5. If a circle is not marked out, cones will be laid on the side lines 10 yards from goal line to mark a rectangular scoring area.
6. The use of goalkeepers is encouraged, particularly at U12, but it remains non-compulsory. Goalkeepers are usually more than happy to guest for other clubs between their own games.
7. Short corners will be awarded in U12 and U10 A level matches only if the defending team has a goalkeeper. If there is no goalkeeper, then an indirect free hit from 10 yards out in line with where the offence was committed.
8. If there is a goalkeeper but no D is marked, an imaginary one works fine, to encourage teams to learn the skills and routines needed.
9. If a team leads by 3 goals one of its players will be retired. The full team may be restored if the scores are levelled (not if the trailing team scores once).

Organisation
• • Reading HC website will be used to post dates, times, venues and host club organisers. http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/ng/minis
• Host clubs may invite other sides to join their tournaments (space allowing and not to the detriment of regular participants).
• Hosts need to know well in advance how many teams are coming from each club. A minimum of one week’s notice is needed and it is not fair to call a few days before a tournament to change the number of teams (up or down). “We’re not sure how many teams we are bringing” is never an option.
• Host clubs publish match schedule 5 days in advance.
• The two clubs hosting B tournaments on the same date should work together to ensure roughly even numbers at each venue. “We don’t want to travel to Newbury” is not an option.
• The relevant age group should be specified in the header of all e-mail about tournaments.
• Photography rules will be the responsibility of the host club. The guideline is that:
– The taking of photography and video by parents is allowed for personal use
– The publication of images is not allowed without the written consent of every Colt (or parent/guardian if U18) in the image.
– Images should be framed to be within the context of the sporting event
– Any published images (see point 2) must not contain information allowing for the identification of the people, ie tagging, address, location etc..
– If you post images on the any website or social media sites, of anyone other than your own child, then written consent is required (see point 2).
– If you are at all unsure, do not post the image
• It is the responsibility of the host club to ensure that a qualified first-aider is present. This may be from the club’s own membership or from a visiting club but it is up to the host club to check who is coming.
• All costs associated with hosting tournaments, such as pitch hire, are the responsibility of the host club.
• Clubs sending one coach for three or four teams causes problems, for example teams not being ready for games to start or no-one quite sure who should be on the pitch or in what colour shirts. Clubs should try to appoint enthusiastic parents to “manage” each team, hockey experience not required.
• In the event of ice or snow on the morning of a tournament, while the host will make every effort to contact visiting clubs, it is the responsibility of the visiting clubs to contact the host to find out whether or not the tournament will go ahead. If in doubt please assume a tournament is going ahead.